New national study surveys pastors on congregational health ministries

DURHAM, NC-A new national study will examine the views and knowledge of pastors about congregational health ministries.

Congregations use a variety of leadership structures to organize parish nursing or other health ministries. Many programs are lay-led, and many involve collaboration among more than one church or organization. The Duke study will look at pastors' perspective on pastoral and administrative issues, with the goal of improving understanding among religious and health care professionals. The study will focus on activities and services for members of a congregation, rather than outreach efforts by a congregation.

The national study is under the auspices of Duke University's Center for the Study of Religion, Spirituality, and Health, and the Trajectories of Aging and Care (TRAC) Center of Duke's School of Nursing. The study is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (Nursing Research) and the Templeton Foundation. It is a follow-up to the 2001 clergy survey conducted by Pulpit & Pew.

Principal Investigator is Ana Maria Catanzaro, Ph.D., RN, Research Fellow at Duke's Center for the Study of Religion, Spirituality, and Health. Dr. Catanzaro has graduate degrees in Community/Public Health Nursing and Theology, and since 1993 has been involved in congregational health ministries.

The study will be completed by summer 2005. Participants will receive a summary report of the results by fall 2005, and findings will be published in journals for clergy and for health care professionals.

For further information, visit the study's homepage.